Corporate Social Responsibility

We'll be showcasing those stand-out individuals and organisations who ensure that those who produce what we see, read and hear is a true reflection of wider society - those who buy newspapers, watch television and video blogs, listen to the radio and read blogs.

25 years of volunteering. A million hours of employee time given by 160,000 employees. £40 million of company time invested in high impact social action volunteer programmes, helping 192,000 beneficiaries.

Explosive, graphic, and seeped in narratives of corporate irresponsibility, the disaster movie 'Deepwater Horizon' hit cinemas in recent weeks. Based on real events, the movie documents the largest manmade environmental disaster in US history: the BP Deepwater Horizon oil-spill. Following an explosion on the rig in April 2010, 800 million litres of oil streamed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Being poor is not just about being unable to afford those 'nice to have' things - it's being forced to pay more for the absolute essentials, such as gas, electricity, banking, household goods and even groceries simply because you are living in poverty. It's called the 'poverty premium' and it is effectively a tax on the poor.

The size of this economy is smaller than the UK where in excess of 70,000 social enterprises contribute 4% to UK GDP. But it is hugely impressive given a starting point of near zero at the turn of the millennium.

It's an incredible feeling being part of such a force for positive change and seeing the results. I'd encourage anyone who is lucky enough to get involved to do so. Just getting involved in your own community can make a difference.

From tax evasion to emission scandals, to executive pay and working conditions, the last twelve months have been dominated by corporate scandal. It is an issue that soared to the top of the agenda once again on Monday, when Theresa May announced her proposals to reform corporate governance and restore trust in business and politics alike.

It was reported in the media recently that Sir Philip Green had taken delivery of a £46m private jet. This news was bound to be salt in the wounds of the 11,000 people at risk of losing their jobs through the collapse of BHS.

We want to feel able to make a difference with our own impact on our planet and the people on our planet. However when it comes to something as basic as getting dressed in the morning, we're already lost. So what would be helpful for us to know about the clothes we're wearing?

It is generally agreed that for many years mental health has been treated as a Cinderella service within the NHS. There is growing recognition that this situation can and must change, and - critically - real action has been taken to address the problem, with £600m of new money committed in the Spending Review. But we must also recognise that there are new challenges to address, particularly for young people, not least from social media.

For egg-laying chicks at least, we are moving slowly but surely to a "post-cage" era. Nestlé, the world's largest food company today announced they will use only cage-free eggs in all U.S. products within the next five years.

Tax avoidance is now scarcely out of the news, and many companies have faced huge reputational damage for playing fast and loose with the rules. Alongside the urgent reforms to regulation that are required, good businesses should recognise that they too must play their part. The world expects nothing less from corporations and their leaders.

It is time for more companies to raise their voice in the refugee debate - as employers, investors, product and service providers, and above all, as powerful economic and societal actors. A more compassionate welcome for refugees is not only the right response to support, it also makes business sense.